Tsurumi Children’s Hospice (TCH) opened its doors in the city of Osaka in April 2016 to care for children with life-threatening conditions by providing a children’s hospice and professional family support services.
TCH is the first free-standing children’s hospice in Japan, and we offer families access to planned respite in a warm and welcoming environment. Such a facility is rare in Japan, where around 200,000 children aged 15 or younger are estimated to have cancer or other serious illnesses.
Unlike a typical palliative care institution for the terminally ill, TCH supports families throughout their experience of caring for children with life-threatening conditions, from diagnosis through to recovery or bereavement. Each family is supported in varying ways according to their personal needs.
Sister Frances Dominica who is a founder of Helen and Douglas House as the world’s first children’s hospice, visited Japan in 2009, and made a keynote speech at a seminar. Her words became TCH’s essential philosophy: “We will help children with life-threatening conditions and their families live life to its fullest. No matter what the illness, the important thing is for children of the same age to share the same experiences.”
It costs more than ¥50 million each year to operate TCH, and we rely on fundraising support from generous individual, corporate and community partners to provide our services free-of-charge to families.
TCH’s spirit of care aims to create lasting change in the lives of children and families. Your support can change lives and make a difference.
